USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1950-1954 > Part 31
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
We shall continue our program to make Randolph's educational system serve the young people in the best possi- ble manner.
I. D. Reade Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF RANDOLPH HIGH SCHOOL HUBERT F. GILGAN, PRINCIPAL
This report is intended to cover the entire fiscal year of 1952, but any reference to the first six months in the old building under the two platoon system was made in my last report. We believe no more need be said other than to men- tion that it is our earnest hope that the citizens of this town will be foresighted enough to see to it that a double session in any part of the school system in the future would be a grave mistake and should be avoided. The children of Ran- dolph are entitled to the best and we do not believe this can be accomplished with an abbreviated day.
We are now settled in our new quarters in the new six- year high school, but it is with a feeling of nostalgia that we must realize that Stetson High School has gone out of exis- tence. we hope that the thousands of Stetson graduates, in- cluding the writer, will realize that progress and the growth of the population of the town have made this step necessary. that their alma mater is still here and even though Stetson High is now Randolph High, it is still their school and they" are not exactly "men without a country".
Our new school is really a thing of beauty. Architectu- rally it is as modern as can be, there is scarcely an inch of wasted space, and it includes all kinds of facilities which we have never had before, facilities which will help us to of- fer to our students a broader horizon of varied types of
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activities, all of which go into the makeup of a modern school. Space does not permit us adequately to describe this building with its spacious classrooms, perfectly lighted, its many specialized rooms, its beautiful auditorium, gymna- sium, library, cafeteria, and many other features. We can truthfully report that the pupils are thrilled with it and have responded to it in a thoroughly grown-up and satisfactory way. We know that many hundreds of people saw this build- ing the day of dedication, but we wish to invite any and all citizens to come to the school, if they can, to see it actually in operation.
Last year we spoke of the library and suggested we needed books and an annual budget for the purchase of library books. Nothing came of it. We still have a beautiful library with row upon row of empty shelves. We are not even within hailing distance of the minimum requirements of the State Department of Education. The library, at pre- sent, gets little or no use by the pupils because there are no books there for them to use. We hope this will be reme- died.
Some idea as to how the town and the high school has grown may be obtained from the idea that in 1949 the high school building housed 380 pupils with 19 teachers. The present high school building houses (including grades 7 and 8) 857 pupils and 36 teachers. Next year, by graduating 80 seniors and taking in 240 sixth graders, plus children of new families moving into town before September 1953, we will see our high school enrolment take another upward stride. We will then have approximately 1,000 pupils in the new building.
Our shop for boys is only partially functioning at the present time. We are offering now, woodworking twice a week to the boys of grades 7 and 8. It is our hope that the near future will see this department operating on a full scale basis as originally planned with courses in general shop and machine shop, including some automotive repair.
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It is expected that this department will be available to boys of grades 9 through 12 as well as at present operated, but this will mean more equipment and more shop instructors. It is not our aim to graduate finished cabinet makers, elec- tricians or auto mechanics, but we do aim to give as many boys as possible as much know-how in as many of these trades as we can so that they will know how to do the various things necessary for any householder when he has his own home. If, then, a boy wishes to specialize in a particular trade, he can do so, but it is far too expensive for a school such as ours to try to compete with a regular trade school. We hope to operate the shop course for boys as we do the household arts course for girls.
At present, our household arts facilities are inade- quate. We give some superficial experiences in the work tu grade 8 girls once a week; nothing for grade 7 girls. We are operating a full time program for girls of grades 9 and 10, with very little elective work for other girls. This is due to a need for another teacher and another room. We recommend that room 167, which has all the necessary facili- ties already installed, be furnished with equipment stored from the old building and set aside for use by the girls of grades 7 and 8 two periods a week, and another teacher be provided for these girls. Our present two teachers could then be used for the girls of grades 9 through 12 for both regular and elective work.
Randolph High School gratefully acknowledges its thanks to the following organizations for their generous un- derwriting of a years subscription to the following maga- zines, now being used in our library :
St. Bernadette's Holy Name Society - Popular Mechanics McNeil School P. T. A. - The National Geographic Odd Fellows - Holiday
V. F. W. Auxiliary - Foreign Affairs
American Legion - New Republic
Randolph-Holbrook Rotary Club - The Rotarian
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Randolph Civic Improvement League - Musical America Knights of Columbus - America
Women's Guild, Trinity Episcopal Church - Consumers Research Bulletin
Amvets - Americas
Lions Club - Science News Letter
The Hilltop Club, Congregational Church - Harpers Monthly
V.F.W. - Christian Science Monitor.
Randolph Teachers Union, A.F.L. - Survey
Randolph Manufacturing Co. - Life
We sincerely hope that these subscriptions will be re- newed and that other organizations will follow suit so that the young people of this school will have available the best type of literature dedicated to a wide variety of fields of interest.
That we may offer to our pupils a well rounded list of varied extra curricula activities, already there are operating in this school the following clubs and activities : Rifle, Public Speaking, Hobby, Ski, Hook & I, French, Current Events, Ceramics, Nature, Book, Future Homemakers of America, Dramatic, Handicraft, Newspaper, (8 issues a year). It is expected that as the students interests devolop, more clubs will be added during the year.
Our band has grown tremendously. We now have a 55 piece band and with an equally large junior band, thus 55 members will increase. Our band is second to none musically speaking, but the uniform situation is in need of attention. Our uniforms are 15 years old, they are out of style, and we haven't enough to go around. We have begun a drive for $3,000. for new uniforms, of which $2,000. has been secured to date. We are hopeful that before the school year is over, we will have the rest of the money and a senior band which will look as fine as they sound.
It is extremely difficult to find good substitute teachers
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for the high school because of the rate of pay for such teach ers. We have had far too many days without teachers for our pupils because of this low rate and we would suggest the rate of substititute pay be raised to a level on a par with other communities.
We are pleased to acknowledge that through the efforts of Mr. Joseph Cohen of the Randolph Manufacturing Com- pany, a new scholarship has been made available to us. It is called the Joe Lapchick Scholarship. We are very pleased about this because we do not have enough scholar- ships for our young people and we hope other groups wil follow suit.
REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR JOSEPH W. DALY, DIRECTOR
The guidance program expanded to provide the most broad and comprehensive service so far available to our pupils. The new equipment is a tremendous aid in.this work.
Interviews were held with all students in the school and a second interview was held with Seniors, Juniors, and Freshman. At the second interview with the Juniors and Freshmen, the result of their vocational tests were given them. Also all year long students constantly came in for help on vocational plans, education plans, part-time employ- ment, personal problems, etc.
Our students again were greatly aided by attendance al the college day at Thayer Academy, Open House at various nursing schools, business colleges, etc.
We made follow-up study of the class of 1952 and find that all members are either employed, married, or in college. Colleges they are attending include University of Massachu- setts, Stonehill, Boston College, Boston University, North-
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ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
eastern, Framingham Teacher's College, Bridgewater Teach- ers' College, and Tufts.
Approximately sixty students were aided in securing part-time employment in manufacturing plants, stores, farms, and homes in Randolph, Milton, Brockton, and sur- rounding towns. Excellent employment relations have been maintained with the Massachusetts Employment Office in Brockton.
During the year, talks were provided on such fields as mechanical jobs, office work, nursing, engineering, retail- ing, music, home economics, business administration, labora- tory technician, etc.
Group work was done in the Junior High, covering such fields as study habits, hobbies, making friends, etc. Inter- views were also-held with students.
We express our appreciation to the School Commit- tee, Mr. Reade, Mr. Gilgan and our counselors, Miss Wini- fred Brennan, Miss Anna Good, and Mr. Lloyd Clark for their cooperation and assistance.
DRIVERS EDUCATION REPORT
L. J. WALLACE, INSTRUCTOR
During the school year 1951-1952, 33 pupils received their driver's licenses as a result of their taking the Driver Education Course.
A car was once more made available to Randolph High School in October 1952, which is being used to prepare pu- pils for the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles license examination.
It is hoped that during the present school year at least 34 pupils will receive their driver's license.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS. REPORT OF THE ART SUPERVISOR ETHEL B. ATWOOD
Change and progress marked the work of the Art De- partment for the past year. Change because of the division of the work of art supervision at the Sixth Grade . and progress because of several innovations.
The Junior High and the High School grades entered two widespread competitions .. .. The Annual Poster Con- test and the American Humane Education Society; and, Scholastic's Art Awards Competition, and won awards in both.
Once again we worked with Mr. Myron B. Thomas the Director of Music, and pupils from the High School Art Class produced the modernistic and colorful backdrop in the spring Festival of Music.
During Education Week - through the courtesy of the Weymouth Power and Light Company - children from each grade were to be seen in the store window, at work on various art projects. This was an innovation that proved of wide public interest, judging from much favorable com- ment aroused.
The present schedule of the Art Supervisor includes weekly visits to the forty-five classroom in the first six grades. Art Work in the Junior High and High School grades is under the direction of Mr. Samuel Polio who con- ducts his classes in the Art Room in the High School Build- ing.
The art program is a full and busy one. The things we have done and the things we plan to do are made possible and pleasant because of the co-operation received from those with whom and for whom we work . .. to them, our hearty thanks.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT REPORT OF THE REMEDIAL READING MARY C. GAUGHEN, SUPERVISOR
To the Members of the School Committee:
I respectfully submit my fourth report as Supervisor of Remedial reading.
On October 2, 1953 all pupils in grades one through six were given a reading readiness test. This is a diagnostic test that helps the teacher diagnose class weaknesses as well as individual weaknesses.
Mr. Reade has analysed the tests of each grade and has reported to the teacher the general reading weaknesses of her class. This gives each teacher an opportunity to provide the needed work and drill.
There are approximately 225 pupils receiving remedial ! help in reading. Because of the continual increase in en- - rollment, this number is constantly subjected to change. The e large number of pupils in need of help presents a problem, , because the "slow learner" has a tendency toward a short t attention span. Consequently, small groups and frequent t lessons prove more beneficial to learning.
A reading series has been purchased for the "slow learners" from grades two through six. This series is not numerically marked as to grade. This should help in re- moving any feeling of inferiority.
Research has shown that many people reach maturity without realizing there is more than one way to read a given piece of material. One of the ways in which we can provide for versatility in reading method is the differentiation of directed reading assignments. The development of a story presents an opportunity for the teacher to observe the way in which each child adjusts his rate of reading to suit dif ferent purposes. Reading to find the general idea and
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
skimming for the purpose of review may be done rapidly ; reading to find proof requires more time; and reading for the sequence of the steps in the solution of a problem de- mands very careful reading. This is the reason reading books are not permitted to be taken home. However, supple- mentary readers may be taken home. I hope, in the near future, there will be supplementary readers available for all pupils.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE STEPHEN J. HART
My report as an attendance officer for the year 1952.
I wish to state that the situation is normal and I think with closer supervision can be kept so. The truancy cases. have increased somewhat and it was necessary for me to take four cases to Quincy for disposition.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION JOSEPH J. ZAPUSTAS
Physical Education is the training of the muscles and. physical organs by means of athletic or other exercise.
Health is conceived of as a composite of mental, physi- cal, emotional, social and ethical forces, all of which together determines the health and maturity of the individual.
What our future will be, individually or as a nation, depends on a larger part on our health. Certainly the natu- ral safety depends on the daily energy we bring to our work. The discovery of health defects serious enough to disqualify large numbers of men for military service in recent years has startled the American public. During these years medi- cal research has discovered many new weapons to combat disease, while low cost health clinics and hospitals and
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medical insurance have brought health closer to millions of our people. These facts combine to make us realize that good health for all is now possible and that the health of all is the concern of all.
The program of Physical Education in the elementary schools has consisted of relays, involving the fundamental motor skills, such as running, hopping, jumping, and skip- ping. A great deal of emphasis has been placed upon the ball handling skills, stressing the low of opposition, the pro- per techniques of throwing, catching, rolling, dodging and bouncing.
Games of law organization, including the chase and tag games, which involve usage of the large muscles of the body, have been used very frequently.
Rhythmics in the form of singing games have been popular in the primary grades and the fundamental motor skills previously learned are about to be presented through the use of the elementary rhythm records.
The total program of the year will include a progression of the activities above and will also include marching, square dancing, creative rhythmics, stunts and tumbling, softball teams, games for the intermediate grades, contests, skill tests, minetics and other activities.
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The eight grade program has consisted of the funda- mental ball skills and leadup games to soccer, which includes dribbling, kicking, running, throwing, and all soccer relays. Ball skills have been greatly emphasized at this level.
Marching which contributes to good posture and car- riage is one of the activities stressed for the class.
Ball games of high organizations and relay races have been used very frequently.
The total program of the year will include stunts and tumbling, a progression of some of the activities above,
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square dancing, social dancing, modern dance techniques, team games, basketball, badminton, volley ball, soft ball, and track and field events.
The high school girls have been participating in the following competitive activites for physical e ducation classes; soccer, fieldball, field hockey, volleyball, basket- ball, and relay races involving skills. In the field of dance they have been having square and country dancing, social dancing and modern dance techniques.
This year the girls have been enjoying tumbling and apparatus work which is made possible by the addition of new equipment to our department.
The high school boys physical education program con- sists of participation in competitive sports such as foot- ball, basketball, baseball and track. Class work consists of various types of indoor and outdoor games involving skilis, tumbling and apparatus work.
At the present time physical education is being taught in every school to some extent but the physical education staff is not sufficient in numbers. I recommend strongly a need for another physical education man and girl instruc- tors. Another recommendation is to have the school yards fixed so that the children could avoid any hazards of dan- ger.
I want to thank Miss Lappen, Miss MacEachern and Mr. Savard for their co-operation and loyalty to the children of the town, also the school committee for their foresight of the Physical Education and Health Department towards the future.
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR MYRON B. THOMAS
I herewith submit my annual report as Director of
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Music in the Public Schools of Randolph.
We are all aware of the tremendous growth in our com- munity and of the increase it has caused in our school en- rollment. The music department has also felt this growth and should secure in the near future the services of a full- time assistant.
Seventy new instrumentalists from grades 4 through 8 have begun study this year. When these students have successfully completed their training they are promoted to the elementary and junior bands. There are approximately 200 children in the entire system studying a band instru- ment. This means that 10% of the total enrollment of the Randolph school system is now in the instrumental classes.
To insure proper instrumentation in our junior and senior bands it is necessary for the school department to own instruments which are rarely purchased by the student himself. These might include the larger instruments and members of the horn family which are seldom used as solo instruments as well as some of the conventional ones which could be made available to any student with a serious desire to learn an instrument but who might not be able to afford one.
All instrumentalists in grades 4 through 6 desiring free instruction receive 15 minutes private instruction per week. This is a practice which is employed to my knowledge, only in our school system. All instrumentalists in grades 7 through 12 receive instruction during their free or study period.
We have been developing only band students to date and have insured a good basic band program, but I feel that this system has grown to a point where the need for a string program is indicated. Many grade pupils have al- ready asked about this phase of the music program and made known their desire to participate and I must inform
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them that at present the music department is understaffed and enlarging the program at this point would be impossi- ble. Due to the tremendous task of overseeing the whole music system, the directorship of the bands, the high school chorus, the glee clubs and instruction of many of the in- struments, the school department has engaged Miss Jeanne Norris, a graduate of Stetson High School and Boston Uni- versity College of Music to assist me in the teaching of in- struments in the grades two days per week .;
I should like to recommend that the music curriculum be expanded in the future to include more theory courses in the high school and more glee club activity in the junior high.
This year I have brought Miss Quimby into the high school to assist me with the teaching of general music in the eighth grade. Miss McGerrigle is also teaching all the seventh grade general music. There are twelve of these classes which meet once per week.
Last year, due to the heavy instrumental enrollment, we had a beginners' band, which appeared at the annual Spring concert.
The junior band has one weekly rehearsal. Members from grades 5 through 8 are eligible. At present there are 48 members. The junior band appeared at the Mass. regional festival held at Middleboro last spring. The band also played at the annual concert and marched in the Memorial Day parade.
The senior band rehearses twice each week. There are 55 members this year. A campaign has been launched for the purchase of new uniforms to replace the 15 year-old ones, but the progress to date has been slow and I regret to report that there is a balance of $1400.00 still to be raised.
The band participated in the festival at Middleboro and at the spring concert, marched in the Memorial Day parade,
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played at several assemblies, assisted at the Driver-train ing program and played at the home football games.
The high school chorus meets once each week. This group has grown from 60 voices to 90 this year, a phenomenal increase for this sort of organization. The chorus auditioned at the regional festival at Middleboro, the annual concert, graduation and the dedication of the new building. As this is written the chorus is just about to present a Christmas vocal program - a new venture for the music department.
The high school glee club rehearsed once each week. This group is composed of female voices, all selected, and forms the girls' section of the chorus.
Once a week a visit is made to each of the first six grades by Miss Frances S. Quimby, grade supervisor. This is supplemented by the daily music periods conducted by the classroom teacher. A varied music period is given then, ranging from the singing of songs already familiar to them, to the more technical problems of music reading. First les sons in music reading are introduced in the first grade and are added to each year with two part music being introduced at the end of the fourth grade. With this preparation, they are ready for three part music in either the sixth or seventh grade depending upon the aptitude of the class. This music reading program helps to lay the foundation for both the instrumental and choral programs in the Junior and Senior High Schools which prepare them to be able to contribute to all the music in the community after finishing school.
I am grateful, as always, for the cooperation of all the school officials and teachers, without which I could not successfully discharge the duties of the music department. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the school de -. partment for the securing of Miss Norris to assist in the instrumental teaching. I believe it will make possible a much greater efficiency in our department which has now developed far beyond the capacities of two teachers.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS. REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUND DIRECTOR GRACE M. WELCH
Summer Playground Activities for the year 1951 con- sisted of many different types of handicraft work, namely, Tray Painting, Sewing, Modeling with Clay and Plaster of Paris, Weaving, Crepe Paper Construction, the plaiting of Laniards and Bracelets of Gimp, and Small Baskets and Coasters of Raffia.
Under the supervision of Miss Barbara Maguire at the High School, Miss Patricia Copeland at the Devine School, and Mrs. Grace Welch at the McNeill School, several hikes, picnics and Weenie Roasts were enjoyed, and trips were taken twice a week. Competitive games and other sports were part of the daily program.
Because of Construction and excavating work going on at both the High School and Devine School, no Softball League was formed this year.
It is to be hoped, that, if a successful Summer Program is to be our aim for the next year, suitable Playground Equipment should be installed at each school, for the use and enjoyment of our children.
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